At home in Southern Germany, the passionate stock exchange expert has been accompanying the capital markets for about twenty years. With a soft spot for smaller companies, he is constantly on the lookout for exciting investment stories. That it depends thereby less on large names, but on the future potential and whether the market also recognizes these perspectives, was one of its first learnings at the stock exchange.
On these pages, Nico examines current events at listed companies and takes a closer look at companies that are traded under the radar of the market, in addition to well-known securities.
In order to be able to take advantage of speculative opportunities on the stock exchange, Nico not only focuses on a balanced asset allocation of defensive and opportunity-oriented securities, but also on an intact risk management. "In addition to position size and entry in several tranches, investors should also develop a sense of timing and get to know a stock better before investing," says the columnist.
Commented by Nico Popp
Commented by Nico Popp on October 6th, 2026 | 07:35 CEST
Fighting Skin Cancer: How Vidac Pharma, Biofrontera and Regeneron Target Different Stages
At the recent annual meeting of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology in Vienna, the focus was on new approaches to treating extensive skin damage. The fight against skin cancer is shifting: It is no longer just about combating developed tumors, but about stopping the disease before it breaks out. Destroying diseased cells early on spares patients from major surgeries and eases the burden on the healthcare system. We present the latest developments and opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 3rd, 2026 | 05:50 CEST
AI Boom and Grid Bottlenecks: Meta, BCE and NU E Power Compete for Electricity Capacity in Canada
Created and Published on Behalf of NU E Power Corp.
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented demand for electricity and pushing even the power grids of industrialized nations to their limits. In the past, data centres required relatively manageable amounts of capacity; today, modern facilities demand grid connections on the scale of around 1,000 MW. Canada is becoming a focus for technology companies due to its cool climate and vast expanses of land. However, regional power grids are struggling to cope with this additional load. This is creating fierce competition for energy, grid connections, and even land. We examine this trend and the companies involved in this evolving energy landscape.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 2nd, 2026 | 09:50 CEST
Formycon and the Patent Cliff: Why Expiring Patents at Novartis and Merck Present an Opportunity for the German Biotech Industry
Even pharmaceutical giants are coming under pressure. The key term here is the patent cliff. According to industry estimates, between 2025 and 2030, active pharmaceutical ingredients with a global sales volume of approximately USD 300 billion will lose their exclusive patent protection. This turning point is forcing even pharmaceutical giants to rethink their strategies. Specialized developers will then bring biosimilars to market—equivalent and more affordable alternatives for healthcare systems. One well-known biosimilar provider is the German company Formycon. We examine the market and outline what makes Formycon's investment story compelling. But first, we look at two international pharmaceutical companies.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 1st, 2026 | 07:45 CEST
Decentralized Instead of Power Shortages: A Comparison of Siemens Energy, 2G Energy and A.H.T. Syngas
When the power grid reaches its limits and power shortages loom, even wind turbines and solar farms are of no help. What is needed then is controllable generation, and combined heat and power (CHP) is considered a key bridging technology. Growing energy demand from industry and AI infrastructure calls for systems that can balance fluctuating feed-in from renewable energy sources. Solutions range from gigawatt-scale power plants to decentralized compact systems. We introduce three companies and shed light on this trend.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 30th, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
Copper Rally Nears Record Highs: What Production Shortfalls at Freeport-McMoRan and Ivanhoe Mines Mean for Explorers Like Power Metallic
The world relies on copper to keep running. Whether it is artificial intelligence, massive data centres, or military equipment, demand is rising across key sectors. According to a recent study by S&P Global, the market is heading toward an annual deficit of 10 million metric tons by 2040. While commodity exchange prices are hitting new record highs and US tariff threats are depleting physical inventories, supply chains are revealing fundamental weaknesses. A strategic realignment of the mining industry seems inevitable. We examine the current situation and key players.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 30th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
West Africa's Gold Rush: How Desert Gold Is Forging Its Own Path Alongside Barrick Mining and B2Gold in Mali
The price of gold keeps hitting new record highs, yet a state of emergency continues to prevail in key mining regions such as West Africa. While the precious metal promises high margins on the global market, established mining companies in Mali increasingly face government crackdowns. Although these developments are not halting day-to-day operations, they do require strong negotiating skills from the major producers. It is precisely in this operational environment that agile Africa experts are positioning themselves with smart strategies. We shine a spotlight on Barrick, B2Gold and Desert Gold.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 29th, 2026 | 07:35 CEST
Daimler Truck, Deutz and dynaCERT: Retrofit Technology as a Bridge Solution
Anyone who travels on German highways every morning can immediately see how important trucks are to our daily lives. Truck drivers keep the economy moving. Yet at first glance, it is not obvious that the logistics industry is caught in a conflict of priorities: calls for greater climate protection are running up against the high costs of the transport business. Zero-emission trucks are expensive, while the necessary infrastructure is still largely lacking, forcing transport companies to find pragmatic interim solutions. This opens up opportunities for agile companies and forward-thinking investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 29th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Nevada Reshuffles: Barrick, Newmont and SSR Mining Pursue New Projects – Phenom Resources in the Middle of It
Gold is more relevant than ever. Persistent geopolitical risks and inflation concerns are driving investors increasingly toward the traditional safe haven. After a record high above USD 5,500 in January, the price of an ounce of gold traded around USD 4,150 at the end of September despite the recent correction, still firmly at historically elevated levels. For established producers in the US state of Nevada, this price environment is generating substantial cash flows, while operating costs for ongoing mining operations are also rising. This is forcing major mining companies to rethink their strategies and is creating new opportunities for agile exploration companies operating in the same region.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 29th, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Operation Vivaldi Is Changing the Nature of Warfare: First Hydrogen Follows Ukraine's Lead and Joins the Arms Race
Modern warfare is changing every week. This is exemplified on the battlefields of Ukraine, where, in recent weeks as part of Operation Vivaldi, heavy drones have deployed remote-controlled kamikaze ground robots more than 10 km behind enemy lines. The processes behind this latest Ukrainian offensive are compressing conventional innovation cycles from years to weeks and days, rewriting the rules of the game for the defence industry. Amid this arms race, significant opportunities are opening up for technology companies that approach innovation with the same drive as Ukraine's startups and its units on the front lines. Those that deliver highly flexible, comprehensive solutions from a single source are likely to lead the drone market of the future. We take a closer look at the latest developments at First Hydrogen.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 25th, 2026 | 07:50 CEST
Breakthroughs in Skin Cancer Treatment: New Approaches from Biofrontera and Moderna – Vidac Pharma Faces a Busy Fall
For a long time, the treatment of skin cancer and its precancerous stages resembled a makeshift compromise: Doctors used scalpels, froze affected areas, or prescribed aggressive creams that destroyed tissue. It was not uncommon for patients to suffer pain and weeks of delayed wound healing. But a completely new dynamic is currently emerging in the sector. Suddenly, innovations involving light beams, messenger RNA (mRNA), and the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells are making headlines. We present the latest developments in skin cancer and its precancerous stages. The race for innovation has only just begun.
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